Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Oct. 18, called for the halt of “politicking” amid issues surrounding confidential funds.

“May oras para sa lahat at hindi ito ang panahon ng paninira at pamumulitika lalo na malayo pa ang susunod na eleksyon,” Durete said in a statement

“Higit na mahalaga ang ating pagkakaisa, pagtutulungan, at pagiging handa para tiyaking ang ating mga pamilya ay ligtas at matatag sa darating na mga buwan,” she added.

The Vice President also stated that she acknowledged the “disappointment” and “ire” from the public regarding the proposed budget in the confidential funds but juxtaposed this with “bigger problems” that affect the country’s economy, like the Israel-Hamas conflict and the war between Ukraine and Russia.

“Naiintindihan ko ang inyong pagkadismaya at galit hinggil sa mga isyu tulad ng pakikialam sa budget at usapin ng confidential fund. Ang mga hamon sa pamumulitika ay maliit lamang kompara sa mas matinding pagsubok sa ating ekonomiya bilang epekto ng posibleng paglaki ng tunggalian ng Israel at Hamas at tumatagal na digmaan sa pagitan ng Ukraine at Russia,” she said.

“Hinihikayat ko ang bawat isa sa inyo na tutukan ang paghahanda sa darating na panahon ng taghirap lalo na sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin,” she added.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) were among the government agencies stripped of their P650 million confidential funds by the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened to hurt ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro in an SMNI interview after stating that the confidential funds would target “communists” like the latter.

Magdalo group then called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration to accept the International Criminal Court probe (ICC) probe and hold Duterte accountable.